Folding pocket pistol

ABSTRACT

A folding pistol comprising of a first elongated portion including a barrel, with a second elongated portion including a grip. The first and second portions being pivotally connected to each other and movable between a closed position in which the first portion and second portion abut each other to define a rectangular peripheral profile and an open position in which the second portion is angularly disposed with respect to the first portion; and wherein the pistol is operable to discharge when in the open position and in an inoperable condition in the closed position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/253,990 filed on Nov. 13, 2015, entitled “FoldingPocket Pistol,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety for all that is taught and disclosed therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the left side view of the pistol folded for storage ortransport.

FIG. 2 shows the right side view of the pistol folded for storage ortransport.

FIG. 3 shows the left front view of the pistol folded for storage ortransport.

FIG. 4 shows the right rear view of the pistol folded for storage ortransport.

FIG. 5 shows the front view of the pistol folded for storage ortransport.

FIG. 6 shows the left side view of the pistol with the barrel unlockedand tilted up for loading.

FIG. 7 shows the left side view of the pistol unfolded for firing.

FIG. 8 shows the right side view of the pistol unfolded for firing.

FIG. 9 shows the front left view of the pistol unfolded for firing.

FIG. 10 shows the front right view of the pistol unfolded for firing.

FIG. 11 shows the left rear view of the pistol unfolded for firing.

FIG. 12 shows the right rear view of the pistol unfolded for firing.

FIG. 13 shows the front view of the pistol unfolded for firing.

FIG. 14 shows the rear view of the pistol unfolded for firing.

FIG. 15 shows the left rear view of the pistol unfolded for firing.

FIG. 16 shows the right side view of the pistol with the cover plateremoved to show the internal mechanism and the interaction of thetrigger/sear with the bolt.

FIG. 17 shows the right side view of the pistol with the cover plateremoved to show the internal mechanism and the interaction of thetrigger/sear with the bolt.

FIG. 18 shows the right side view of the pistol with the cover plateremoved to show the internal mechanism and the interaction of thetrigger/sear with the bolt.

FIG. 19 shows an exploded view as seen from the left side withindividual part names and a corresponding part number.

FIG. 20 shows an exploded view as seen from the right side withindividual parts visible. Not all fasteners are shown here for clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows the left side view of the pistol folded for storage ortransport. The pistol is the same size and shape as a standard creditcard as viewed from the side with a thickness of ½ an inch as drawn. Thepresent design is intended to provide a small, compact and comfortabledesign for a firearm that can be easily carried or stored when folded.At the same time, it is desired that the pistol should be comfortableand substantial enough when made ready to fire. The pistol has afull-size handle that unfolds from the frame to make a more traditionalpistol shape and size. Care should be taken to provide the necessarysafety features and so the pistol has a half-cocked position that makesthe pistol safe for storage or transport whether folded or unfolded. Inthis current design the pistol is chambered for .22 caliber rimfirecartridges in short, long or long rifle variety. The pistol is sizedproperly to also fire .22 WMR, .17 HMR and .17 Mach 2 with only a changein the chamber. Accessory barrels in any of these other calibers couldbe made and switched out on the same gun with just one screw. Thepresent design has a storage compartment built into the handle for sparecartridges or other necessary small items.

FIG. 2 shows the right side view of the pistol folded for storage ortransport. The present design utilizes through holes in the upper cornerof the frame to allow secure storage by means of a padlock. When locked,the bolt is captured in the safe position and cannot be made to firewhether folded or unfolded. The present design is shown constructed ofmostly machined billet parts, both aluminum and steel.

FIG. 3 shows the left front view of the pistol folded for storage ortransport. The pistol is safe in this position and cannot be made tofire.

FIG. 4 shows the right rear view of the pistol folded for storage ortransport.

FIG. 5 shows the front view of the pistol folded for storage ortransport. The sight rail is a v-groove along the top of the barrel andframe.

FIG. 6 shows the left side view of the pistol with the barrel unlockedand tilted up for loading. The barrel in this current design is unlockedby pressing the button just behind the pivot screw. Other means oflocking and unlocking could be utilized. NEW: the barrel latch wasrelocated for safety reasons to the rear of the gun to lessen thelikelihood of a person placing their hand over the muzzle whileattempting to release the barrel latch. The latch itself was redesignedto a sliding lock instead of a push button to prevent accidentalmovement. An additional feature is incorporated to lock the barrelclosed when the gun is cocked. A small tab on the lower side of thebarrel interfaces with the bolt in the cocked position and alsocompletes the latch mechanism.

FIG. 7 shows the left side view of the pistol unfolded for firing. Asshown, the pistol is still in the halfcocked position which is the safeposition for the bolt. The trigger is captured by the recess in the boltand cannot move. A single button on the left side of the handle of thepresent design is utilized to fold and unfold the handle. The button isspring activated and is simply depressed slightly to unlock the pivot.The handle locks in both the folded and unfolded positions. Other meansof locking and unlocking could be utilized. The handle lock mechanismhas been changed as we found that a right-handed shooter couldaccidentally unlock the handle and fold the gun when attempting to fire.It was determined that the mechanism had to change from a pushbutton toa latch that slides to limit accidental unlocking, especially duringfiring.

FIG. 8 shows the right side view of the pistol unfolded for firing. Thepistol is shown in the half-cocked position with the bolt flush with therear section of the frame.

FIG. 9 shows the front left view of the pistol unfolded for firing.

FIG. 10 shows the front right view of the pistol unfolded for firing.

FIG. 11 shows the left rear view of the pistol unfolded for firing.

FIG. 12 shows the right rear view of the pistol unfolded for firing.

FIG. 13 shows the front view of the pistol unfolded for firing. Thesmaller pocket in the handle receives the trigger when the pistol isfolded. This locks the trigger in place and captures the bolt so thepistol is safe when folded. In addition, the trigger is positioned suchthat it will not fit into the pocket when the pistol is in the cocked orfired position. Therefore, there is a mechanical block that prevents thehandle from being locked closed in any unsafe position.

FIG. 14 shows the rear view of the pistol unfolded for firing.

FIG. 15 shows the left rear view of the pistol unfolded for firing. Thebolt is shown in the cocked position after having been pulled fully tothe rear. NEW: with the addition of the barrel locking mechanism, nowthe barrel is locked once the gun is cocked by pulling the boltrearward. The bolt has a new recess/boss that corresponds to the barrellatch/lock when in the cocked position.

FIG. 16 shows the right side view of the pistol with the cover plateremoved to show the internal mechanism and the interaction of thetrigger/sear with the bolt. This is the cocked position with the boltfully to the rear and the sear engaging the smooth front edge of thebolt. It shows also the new design of the bolt that interacts with thebarrel locking tab as well as detail of the barrel latching mechanism.

FIG. 17 shows the right side view of the pistol with the cover plateremoved to show the internal mechanism and the interaction of thetrigger/sear with the bolt. This is the fired position with the boltfully forward and the firing pin is able to strike the cartridge rim. Itshould be noted that the current designs allows for zero interference ofthe firing pin with the chamber/barrel breech. This allows for “dryfiring” of the pistol with no harm whatsoever. From this fired positionthe bolt must be pulled slightly to the rear in order to reload andplace the pistol into the half-cocked position. Once the bolt isreleased and is in its forward (uncocked) position, the barrel can beunlatched and raised to load or unload.

FIG. 18 shows the right side view of the pistol with the cover plateremoved to show the internal mechanism and the interaction of thetrigger/sear with the bolt. This view shows the bolt and trigger/sear inthe half-cocked position. In this position the pistol is safe even ifloaded since the bolt and firing pin cannot move forward. The triggercannot be pulled either. The only movement possible from this positionis to cock the pistol fully by pulling the bolt to the rear. In theunlikely event that the bolts slips before locking in the fully cockedposition it will simply stop in the half-cocked position therebypreventing an accidental discharge. Only the barrel locking mechanism isdifferent. The half-cocked position functions in the same way as apassive safety.

FIG. 19 shows an exploded view as seen from the left side withindividual part names and a corresponding part number. Not all fastenersare shown here for clarity. Descriptions are listed here with materialselection as currently designed:

-   -   1. Barrel frame, aluminum or steel NEW: solid steel, one piece        barrel (not a liner)    -   2. Barrel liner, chrome-moly pre-rifled barrel liner NEW: this        part is eliminated    -   3. Frame cover plate, aluminum    -   4. Pistol frame, aluminum    -   5. Trigger spring    -   6. 6 a and 6 b are identical push button springs NEW: the new        latch springs are still identical to each other, but the        pushbuttons have been eliminated.    -   7. Storage compartment cover, injection molded plastic. NEW: the        cover is now    -   aluminum    -   8. 8 a and 8 b are identical push buttons NEW: sliding latches        that are identical and replace the pushbuttons.    -   9. Mainspring    -   10. Bolt, steel NEW: modified to receive the barrel lock        mechanism.    -   11. Pistol handle, aluminum    -   12. Trigger/Sear, steel    -   13. Handle cover plate, aluminum

FIG. 20 shows an exploded view as seen from the right side withindividual parts visible. Not all fasteners are shown here for clarity.

We claim:
 1. A folding pistol comprising: a first elongated portionincluding a barrel; a second elongated portion including a grip; thefirst and second portions being pivotally connected to each other andmovable between a closed position in which the first portion and secondportion abut each other to define a rectangular peripheral profile andan open position in which the second portion is angularly disposed withrespect to the first portion; and wherein the pistol is operable todischarge when in the open position and in an inoperable condition inthe closed position.